Donaire eyes May showdown vs Panamanian
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star)
MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash, isn’t slowing down.
Barely 10 days after his sensational win over Fernando Montiel, the newly-crowned WBC and WBO bantamweight champion has his next fight lined up.
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank has penciled May 28 as Donaire’s return to the ring, most likely against WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno.
The Panamanian fighter was originally scheduled to face Lorenzo Parra in April. But suddenly, the fight has been put on hold pending an announcement.
The statement, however, could be one involving a fight with Donaire.
Arum said Donaire’s next fight will take place in Oakland, the eighth largest city in California, and just eight miles or 13 km east of San Francisco.
Donaire will feel right at home fighting in the Bay Area, where there’s a very huge Filipino population.
If the Moreno fight pushes through, and Donaire wins, he will be crowned the undisputed king of the bantamweight (118 lb) division.
Then it should open a lot of opportunities for Donaire, who can move up to the next weight class as he tries to follow the footsteps of countryman Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, winner of a record eight world titles in as many weight divisions, will take on Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on May 7.
And 21 days after, Donaire makes his return to the ring, making the month of May the hottest in the history of Philippine boxing.
Donaire has won the IBF flyweight crown, and the WBA interim super-flyweight title. Arum said he sees Donaire being as successful even at 130 lb.
Donaire shocked the world not by his victory over Montiel but with the way he scored it. Easily, it has become a hot candidate for the knockout of the year.
The studious Filipino fighter who speaks fluent English said in a recent interview that he still hasn’t gotten over his victory over Montiel.
“I’m still on a high right now. It’s just been incredible,” Donaire told The Examiner.
“Nonito would love to get back in the ring quickly. We’d all love that after that performance,” said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin in a separate interview with ESPN.com.
He said they will start reviewing fight tapes of Moreno (30-1-1, with 10 KOs), who currently holds the WBA bantamweight crown.
“I haven’t seen Moreno yet,” Dunkin said. “I will try to watch him and I will have (trainer) Robert (Garcia) watch him and see what he thinks. But Arum is already saying this guy is perfect for the fight he wants to do. It’s another belt that Nonito can win, but it’s not just a belt. Moreno is a credible guy and it would be another appearance on HBO. So it would be a great opportunity.” – With reports from Dino Maragay
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